Children of the Rune – Winterer - Chapter 250

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Episode 20.
Not Every Child Is an Angel (20)
6. Blue Roof House
I wanted to show that child something beyond the reach of his abilities.
I wanted to make him fail, to anger him, to let him taste bitterness.
On the wedding day, countless guests wore expressions of displeasure. People whispered as they watched the beautiful and radiant bride and the handsome, intelligent-looking groom.
“That groom’s path to hardship is clear as day ahead.”
“He came looking only at money, so what hardship could there be? It’s all of his own making.”
“That’s not it. You know, now that a son has been born, things have changed, haven’t they? He probably didn’t come just for money originally, but all his hopes have been shattered, haven’t they?”
“But isn’t House of Arnim being too much? Marrying off a daughter like that is purely the parents’ greed, isn’t it? She can’t even manage a household properly—she might only be able to bear children. What good is being pretty as a flower?”
“It would be better for the family and her brother if she couldn’t bear children. I’m sure of it…”
“Stop it. Not now.”
Ivnoa, who neither heard nor would have understood the people’s murmuring, remained happy. She was about to begin new games with Theo, whom she had known like a childhood companion, and with so many pretty toys brought for her, there was no reason for discontent.
Twelve years ago, when Theo first entered House of Arnim, people had no doubt that he, as a son-in-law, would inherit not only the wealth but the title as well. However, after Ivnoa’s younger brother, the so-called “miracle child” Joshua, was born, no one thought that way anymore. Thus, this wedding was nothing but an empty shell. Rather, people gossiped that it was decorated all the more lavishly because of it.
Blessed or cursed by the people’s send-off—it was unclear which—the newlyweds departed for a beautiful island in the Southern Region of Hyacan. It was a place where anyone with money owned a villa.
No return date was set, but everyone assumed it would be at most half a year. They thought Lady Arnim, who loved her daughter dearly, wouldn’t endure any longer than that.
Behind the carriage carrying the newlyweds was a smaller carriage carrying Joshua. Once they broke away to the outskirts, that carriage changed direction and separated from the procession. The destination was Kotzboldt, a rural village in the central inland region.
Officially, it was a vacation. The luggage was packed simply, and the farewells were light. Perhaps because we left so easily, the image of Jade Ring Castle, which I had never felt particularly attached to, lingered in my mind for a while.
I would not be able to return for at least a year. Father had begun executing the plan he had spent the winter preparing. He had even gone to great lengths to obtain travel permits to send my sister and her husband to Hyacan for that reason. I was supposedly going to spend my summer vacation there, but there was no possibility of returning even after summer ended. Father’s true purpose was to hide his children, who might become hostages in the crisis that was coming, in a safe place. He had even spent a considerable sum in bribes to do so.
In Kotzboldt, someone called Grandfather would be waiting for me. From the moment we left Keltika, a man named Stilton, who introduced himself as Grandfather’s secretary, had accompanied us. It was exactly as Father had told me beforehand.
Having left the manor, I was more concerned about meeting Grandfather, whom I had never seen before, and having to live in a place where I knew no one, than about the family’s future. Had I ever made a good impression on a stranger? Had there been even one instance?
“Kotzboldt is a rural area where many sheep are raised. They also keep chickens and dogs. You’ll be staying at a fine pastoral manor. They seem to plant quite a bit of wheat in the area too. Rural people have kind hearts. Have you ever seen sheep being herded?”
“…”
When he mentioned rural people, I briefly recalled Tomison, who had introduced himself as a farmer’s son, before the thought faded away.
“It seems you haven’t. There’s nothing that looks as leisurely as sheep scattered across a meadow. But those creatures are actually quite temperamental when you get to know them. However, young master, since you’re not a shepherd, you can just spend all day rolling around in the grassland. You must be tired from studying all this time, haven’t you?”
Stilton seemed to know nothing about Joshua, yet he still appeared to be trying to comfort me. But exhausted in body and mind from anxiety and tension, I was in no mood to respond to his words.
When I didn’t answer, Stilton ran out of things to say. Thanks to that, the journey became quite tedious. After a long while, I asked about Grandfather, but Stilton only spoke of how wonderful he was, wonderful, and wonderful again. Then he looked at my face intently and added a remark.
“Young master resembles your grandfather. Especially your eyes are similar.”
On the fourth day, the carriage entered a village called Milbaf. Because the scenery had been repetitive, I was dozing inside the carriage, exhausted.
After passing through Milbaf, the carriage suddenly stopped. Half-awake, I stared blankly at the meadow outside the window when Stilton opened the door, got down, and looked back at me.
“Well, we’ve arrived. Please get down.”
I got down because he told me to, but I could only be bewildered. There was no sign of Grandfather’s house anywhere—in fact, I couldn’t see any house at all. While I, still drowsy, was racking my brain, Stilton took out my small hand luggage, placed it on the ground, and said:
“I cannot enter my master’s house without permission, so I shall take my leave now. Enjoy yourself.”
I was startled.
“Wait. How can you leave me alone in the middle of nowhere like this?”
“The middle of nowhere?”
Stilton looked around quickly, then tilted his head like an old man who couldn’t quite understand, and said:
“Is that so?”
“Where is the house?”
“Don’t you see it over there?”
Joshua turned his head in the direction Stilton was pointing. There was something there, certainly. Something did exist, but unless one were blind, that structure appeared to be nothing more than a half-collapsed ruin. Even being generous, he would have guessed it to be little more than a Gatekeeper’s cottage. It could not possibly be the manor everyone had spoken of.
“Where is Grandfather’s house, then? The place I’m supposed to go?”
“Young Master, you cannot see Grandfather’s house? It stands perfectly well right there.”
“What I see is a blue roof and—”
“Ah, yes. That blue roof.”
….
While Joshua stared at the blue roof with an expression difficult to articulate, Stilton climbed back into the carriage. Hearing the door close, Joshua spun around in a fluster.
“Wait! I need more explanation!”
Stilton merely smiled and waved his hat, offering no chance to detain him. The carriage departed without hesitation.
“What am I supposed to do now?”
Yet all that remained was dust. Joshua stood motionless, unable even to consider giving chase. His mind was in complete disarray. Though he attempted to assess the situation with that brilliant intellect of his, only one cry echoed through his thoughts: I’ve become a lost child!
Joshua remained standing until the carriage dwindled to a speck and vanished. Then, as though attempting to wake from a dream, he shook his head several times. Yet unlike a nightmare, he did not bolt upright in bed drenched in sweat.
The surroundings were verdant. Beyond the blue roof lay only grassland and sky. The weather was fair. Listening to the hum of some unknown flying insects, Joshua suddenly realized how utterly foreign this land was. Born and raised in Keltika, crowded with buildings and people, he had never before seen a horizon that stretched endlessly in all directions.
What on earth had happened? Had Father known it would be like this? Or had he been deceived as well?
Feeling helpless, Joshua had no choice but to approach that blue-roofed house. He picked up his small bag and trudged forward, covering hundreds of paces.
The closer he drew, the more spectacularly decrepit the Blue Roof House appeared. Though the structure was quite large, the problematic blue roof tilted precariously, as though it would collapse entirely at the first heavy downpour. At the entrance of the U-shaped single-story building stood a well, long neglected and resembling some prehistoric ruin. Parched from tension, Joshua peered into it, only to be greeted by a swarm of flies.
The courtyard gradually came into view. Small pebbles and rotted leaves scattered about, and what might once have been a vegetable garden held twisted, desiccated plants that had perhaps once been vegetables. Farm implements of some kind were stacked to one side, though their purpose remained a mystery to the city-bred Joshua. Bird droppings on the windowsill, a broken weathervane, open windows, an open door….
It was truly a strange sensation. Everything felt as foreign as a dream, yet why would he not wake?
The door stood open, but he hesitated to enter. Instead, he found himself touching the wall. The wall, built from yellowish limestone, felt dry and rough beneath his fingers. The vivid sensation at his fingertips startled him—he felt a tangible boundary between himself and the house. Whether he had ever imagined it or not, whether he had known of its existence or not, this old house was a real place. No matter what Joshua thought, the house did not disappear.
Since this was no dream, he had no choice but to cross the threshold himself. Joshua placed only one foot on the doorstep and opened his mouth.
“Grandfather?”
His heart pounded. Neither Father nor Mother had ever spoken of this person called Grandfather. In fact, until recently, he had not even known such a person existed. Stilton had said Grandfather’s face resembled Joshua’s, but that alone was insufficient to inspire familiarity.
Receiving no answer, Joshua called out more carefully.
“Grandfather… It’s Joshua.”
Would Grandfather even know the name Joshua?
“Is anyone here?”
Still, there was no reply. At last, Joshua stepped fully inside, like someone approaching a predetermined tragic conclusion.
All the windows stood open, so the interior was mercifully bright. By Joshua’s understanding, a Reception Room should have occupied the center of the house, but that space was merely empty. Completely open on all sides.
To the left lay an enormous kitchen. Beyond it, an open doorway beckoned. He went to investigate, but found no one—not even traces of food preparation. It seemed rats and birds had scrupulously cleaned away every morsel. Not a single spark remained in the hearth. The thought that no one lived here gained compelling weight, yet he resolved to check thoroughly to the end.
Children of Rune – Winterer
Author: Jeon Min-hee
Publisher: 14 Month Books
The rights to this book belong to the author and 14 Month Books.
To reuse all or part of the contents of this book, written consent from both parties is required.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————